MAILBOX: READERS
RESPOND

It took only a matter of minutes
to forever change our nation. The worst fears of a free society
have come true, and we will live with both the physical as well
as the emotional scars from this tragedy for years to come.

Today [Sept. 12] is a day for
rescue, grieving and investigation. We must do everything within
our power to help the rescue efforts in New York City and at
the Pentagon and to extend a compassionate hand to the victims'
families.

The victims include not only
the thousands who were in these buildings, but also the countless
brave emergency men and women who responded to save lives only
to become victims themselves.

As a nation, we took immediate
steps yesterday to limit the scope of devastation: We sealed
off airspace, closed federal buildings and heightened security
across the country. Today we continue to safeguard against the
residual threats posed by these horrific events. Yet, a nation
whose people are truly free to travel and communicate will always
be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

We need to investigate all the
facts of yesterday's events so we can determine who is responsible
for this insidious action and respond appropriately. As federal
agencies and other government offices work together, we can begin
to match questions with answers.

We must make every effort to
prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again. I have every
faith that in this time of crisis and mourning, the world will
see that the American spirit of resilience remains undeterred.
Yesterday our nation came together as a united family. Today,
that bond remains stronger than ever. My heart and prayers are
with the injured, the victims and all their families.

Rep. Mike Thompson, Washington

Like most Americans, I am still
reeling from the shock and horror of this attack upon us and
feel the utmost sorrow and sympathy for those who were killed
and injured across the country.

Our nation needs to respond
quickly and decisively to this tragedy, but I refuse to join
the predictable calls for suspending our civil liberties, closing
our borders, building a missile defense shield, increasing the
size of the military and spy networks or strengthening our skyscrapers.

Unless we are willing to exterminate
every person in the world who is poor, oppressed and disenfranchised,
we will never win a "war against terrorism" any more
than we could ever win a "war" against drugs.

Terrorists are not born terrorists,
and they have proven to be neither cowards nor impulsive madmen.

But what do you think would
drive someone be so angry and desperate to commit such atrocities?
And what do we really know about why so many people in the world
hate us? If we really care more about preventing future terrorist
attacks than revenge, nothing short of a complete review of our
international policies and increased understanding of global
issues is in order. Our leaders and media are unwilling to ask
these questions because it may result in changes to our lifestyles,
consumption habits and profits.

These horrible acts have demonstrated
that we are no longer safe from the consequences of our actions
around the world and brought us to a critical crossroads. We
can choose to follow Israel's cyclical path of endless revenge
and retaliation or we can use this opportunity to join the international
community and take the lead in eradicating the root causes of
terrorism. For the sake of the victims of this attack and future
generations, I hope we choose wisely.

Brian Mau, McKinleyville

A s someone who was born and
raised in the D.C. area but is now living here behind the Redwood
Curtain, I felt much too removed from the scenes of [last week's]
events. I had this illogical but unshakable urge to be back in
the Metro area or in New York, offering whatever help I could,
emotionally or otherwise. To be wondering how my family there
was but with no phone service with which to reach them was so
frustrating.

As the first reports were coming
in, I kept thinking how this was only the beginning of a long
nightmare, how the repercussions were going to continue to unfold
for months and years to come -- emotionally, economically, culturally,
militarily.

My roommate and I watched reports
of the World Trade collisions, then he went off for a brief walk
in the forest up the road. By the time he came back just a half
hour later, the Pentagon had been hit, the World Trade buildings
had collapsed, another plane had gone down. How quickly we, as
a nation and a world, can share something so tragic despite our
distances.

I suppose I'm not quite so far
from it all as I at first felt. I imagine none of us will feel
removed from it, as we each discover someone we know has been
directly affected by this.

Martin Anderson, Arcata

I n the dismal light of the
terrible event Sept. 11, many of us have found, re-found or intensified
our American patriotism. Although it seems like a perfectly natural
response to such a horrific event, something about it does not
seem complete.

I think we can all agree that
the most abominable aspect of this tragedy is the fact that so
many innocent lives were lost or altered beyond repair, ... but
I say to our president, to our leaders in Washington, both legislative
and military as they gear up for war, that innocent lives everywhere
in the entire world should be no less important than innocent
American lives.

The dilemma is that the sick
individuals responsible for this attack must be stopped, yet
I am not in favor of violence in any form. I am at the very least
not in favor of making war on anyone at the cost of one innocent
life anywhere, period. This is the standard we have all set for
our people at home here in America. If we are truly a world leader
of nations then we should, without pause, extend that standard
to include all innocent people.

So when we, as Americans, are
giving our thoughts and prayers to the innocent lives affected
last Tuesday, let us extend that feeling to all innocent peoples
everywhere.

Tim Gray, Eureka

My wife Roberta and I were
lucky enough to meet Richard Guadagno once at a dinner party
last month. We were looking forward to having a long friendship
with him and his partner. This week's news is horrifying and
hits home in a way that I never thought possible.

Below is a poem I wrote. If
you want to print it, I would appreciate it. If you don't, I
understand.

America's reponse to the recent
attacks has been typical, but disappointing -- an orgy of flag-waving
and war-making. In front of a McKinleyville gas station the other
night, a man danced on the sidewalk draped in a body-length American
flag, a blinking red light strapped to his head -- all of this
to the delight of passing motorists who honked their honks and
yelled, "Yeah!"

Overnight flags have been dragged
from the garage and attached to anything and everything -- houses,
cars, whatever. At the grocery store, red-white-and-blue leftovers
from Independence Day have been trotted out from overstock in
warehouses.

Arab-Americans have been targeted
for harassment, of course. Or anyone who looks like an Arab-American.
That is to be expected in a time of demonization of "the
enemy." And the supreme enemy is the suspected Osama bin
Laden, identified as the terrorist leader who is behind all of
this.

In this matter I cannot ignore
the similarities between bin Laden and the character of Emmanuel
Goldstein in George Orwell's 1984, still as relevant today
as when it was written. The citizens celebrated the Week of Hate
in which they revile the Enemy of the People, Goldstein, (who,
it turns out) is an invention of the government.

I am looking into the eyes of
a National Geographic photograph, the famous picture of
a beautiful young woman with green eyes. This Afghani refugee
girl graced the cover of the magazine in the mid '80s. ... I
am thinking this girl is a woman now in the Middle East. She
and people like her could be killed.

Let us look for the reasons
for this violence, not react with more.

Marcella Strong, Arcata

Statement from Humboldt
Friends Meeting on the attacks on the World Trade Center,
the Pentagon, and civilian aircraft :

Our hearts go out to the victims of last week's terrible attacks
on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the people in the
four civilian aircraft. We call on Friends and others across
the U.S. to offer prayers, solace, friendship and aid to the
survivors, families, and friends of the victims. We commend the
heroic efforts of public safety personnel and the many others
who, at great personal risk, have worked and continue working
to rescue and treat the victims of these tragedies.

We join with people across the
country and around the world in expressing the hope that those
who planned and orchestrated these terrible acts will soon be
brought to justice under the rule of law. We are concerned, however,
about how the U.S. government responds now.

First, we are concerned that
the U.S. not avenge these attacks with attacks upon other innocent
people who may happen to be of the same nationality, faith or
ethnic group as the alleged perpetrators. This concern extends
to protecting the safety and rights of people here at home. Many
in this country of the Islamic faith or of Middle Eastern descent
are worried that they may now become or have already become the
unwarranted focus of suspicion in their communities or, worse,
the subjects of unjust persecution.

Second, many in the administration
and Congress have declared that a state of war now exists. We
are concerned that these public statements may be stirring the
popular will and expectation for war. We wonder: War against
whom?

Cooler heads must prevail in
the U.S. government during this time of crisis. War will only
compound the tremendous assault on humanity that has already
occurred. War is not the answer.

The people who committed these
acts struck with hatred. They saw the people in the World Trade
Center, the Pentagon and the aircraft as faceless enemies. They
denied the humanity of their victims. The U.S. must not commit
the same sin by compounding the hatred, violence and injustice
of these attacks with its own acts of terror and war against
another people, most of whom are innocent of these crimes.

Finally, the people who planned
these suicide attacks were able to draw volunteers from a growing
number of people around the world who harbor deep resentment
and anger toward the U.S. It is important that we in the U.S.
try to hear and understand the sources of this anger. If we in
the U.S. do not seek to understand and address the roots of this
anger --&nbsppoverty, injustice, and hopelessness -- then
the violence may well continue, no matter what the U.S. does
to try to prevent it.

As members of the Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers), we witness to that spirit of love
which takes away the occasion of war. Out of darkness and tragedy,
may God show us the path of true and lasting peace.

Thanks to the Friends Committee
on National Legislation for its statement of Sept. 12, 2001,
on which ours is largely based.

Humboldt Friends Meeting,
P.O. Box 4786, Arcata, CA 95518

SEPT. 11, 2001:
THE AFTERMATH

Whether you were sleeping in,
having your first cup of coffee, driving to work or already there,
the moment when you heard that two airplanes had smashed into
the World Trade Center is one you're not likely to forget.

Shock, anger and sadness were
on display this week in Humboldt County, as the county grieved
for the loss of more than 5,000 innocents. In a place populated
by proud cowboys and laid-back hippies, unity is a scarce commodity
-- but not this week.

Individuals had widely differing
responses to last Tuesday's events. Some called for nuclear retribution,
others looked for a spark of hope in the overwhelming gloom.
But the strongest sentiment was one of compassion. Reaching back
to their pioneer heritage, Humboldters reacted as any pragmatic
country people would: They tried to help. Some highlights:

Public television KEET-TV decided
the best way to deal with the crisis would be to try and maintain
a sense of normalcy for children. KEET continued to broadcast
its regular morning and afternoon schedules, including Mister
Rogers, Reading Rainbow and Sesame Street, and provided
information on its website to help parents discuss the tragedy
with their children.

The Northern California Community
Blood bank received so many donations of blood in the hours after
the attack that they had to ask people to make appointments.
Over 80 pints of blood from Humboldt County were sent to the
site of the disaster. More is still needed. Call 443-8007 to
make an appointment.

Expressions of grief and respect
popped up across the county, often spontaneously. The art quad
at Humboldt State University became a focal point for many students,
who brought flowers, candles and chalk to create an impromptu
memorial. A service was held at the university on Friday.

Redwood Acres fairground saw
a community memorial service Friday as well, with nearly 1,000
people gathering to light candles and remember the victims. The
pregame ceremonies at Saturday's HSU football game became a tribute
to the firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical personnel
and volunteers trying to save lives in New York.

The airport remained closed
for much of the week. Some flights resumed Sept. 14, under a
tighter security plan than before. An armed security guard has
been hired and cars will be parked at least 300 feet from the
terminal. More than 30 flights were cancelled during the airport
closure. The North Jetty and Samoa Dunes have been closed until
further notice by the Coast Guard for security reasons.

Several groups began fund-raising
efforts to help the families of those who died in the attack.
Eureka High School students are selling ribbons of compassion
and support.

Guadagno, manager of the Humboldt
Bay Wildlife Refuge, was on hijacked Flight 93 that crashed in
Shanksville, Penn. A memorial fund has been established at Six
Rivers National Bank. Contributions should be made to account
number 4400002046.

Humboldt Area Foundation opened
a fund to help victims of the disaster within hours of its occurrence.
Named the Sept. 11th Disaster Fund, it is being administered
at no cost. All funds contributed will be given to the families
of the deceased. Call 442-2993 for more information.

Bayshore Mall announced it is
accepting contributions for the American Red Cross. Cash or checks
can be brought to the Service Stop in the Mervyn's wing. Checks
can also be sent directly to the Red Cross at P.O. Box 37243,
Washington, D.C. 20013. Credit card donations can be made by
calling 1-800-HELPNOW.

Ron Dean photo of the Twin
Towers, shot in the 1970s for Tom Knight's class at HSU.

"In a New York Minute," a drawing
by Jay Brown, done for catharsis just before hanging his show
at Lola's in Arcata